The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, has slammed the eleven power distribution companies in Nigeria with a N505 286,072 billion sanction over non-compliance with the capping of estimated bills for unmetered customers.
NERC disclosed this in a statement on its official X handle on Friday.
The commission also asked DisCos to issue credit adjustments to all overbilled unmetered customers from January to September 2023 by the March 2024 billing cycle as part of the sanction.
The apex electricity regulatory commission said a review of
the DisCos billing of unmetered customers for 2023 revealed non-compliance with the monthly energy caps issued by the commission.
“NERC sanctions 11 discos over non-compliance with capping of estimated bills for unmetered customers.
“The public may recall that in 2020, the Commission issued the Order on Capping of Estimated Bills (Order No: NERC/197/2020) and subsequently issued monthly energy caps which aimed to align the estimated bills for unmetered customers with the measured consumption of metered customers on the same supply feeder. A review of the Electricity Distribution Companies (“DisCos”) billing of unmetered customers for 2023 has revealed non-compliance with the monthly energy caps issued by the
commission.
“In response to this and in a bid to safeguard unmetered customers from arbitrary billing by DisCos, the Commission, under Section 34(1)(d) of the Electricity Act 2023
(“EA 2023”), has issued the Order on Non-Compliance with Capping of Estimated Bills (Order No: NERC/2024/004-014), which stipulates the following: Credit Adjustment to Customers: DisCos are to issue credit adjustments to all overbilled unmetered customers from January to September 2023 by the March 2024 billing cycle.
“Public Notice: DisCos have been directed to publish the list of credit adjustment beneficiaries in two national dailies and on their website no later than 31 March 2024.
“Regulatory Sanctions: The Commission shall deduct a sum of 10,505 286,072 from the annual allowed revenues of the eleven (1 1) DisCos during the next tariff review to deter future non-compliance with the energy caps approved by the Commission.
“The Commission reaffirms its commitment to regulatory compliance and consumer protection within the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry”, the statement reads.
OsunDailyNG recalls that unmettered electricity in December 2023 stood at 7,319,846, according to NERC.
